A lesson on what not to do to, I hope TPU learns from sites like Ars Technica

[Space Lynx]

TPU is great, don't fix what isn't broken, which is exactly what Ars Technica did, their new website launched today and is atrocious. Ars Technica is now a horrible doom scroll experience on mobile with giant blocks to show just one article (before I could see all articles with half a scroll down), desktop Ars Technica is just as bad now too. It was perfect before in smaller block, everything has been giant inflated... lots of wasted space. Before I could glance at 9 different articles quickly to see what interested me, now its down to 5 or 6 max, and even those 5 or 6 take more to figure out what's going on with them cause of the formatting being so strange.

Polygon gaming website did something similar too, Polygon was perfect grid no wasted space, and they changed it a few weeks ago and its a mess to look at now.

Lesson of the day, don't fix what isn't broken, so many sites need to learn this basic fact.

 

[W1zzard]

not gonna happen

if you're complaining about the downtime tonight? it was broken and if it's not getting fixed it's never coming back online

 

[azrael]

TPU is great, don't fix what isn't broken, which is exactly what Ars Technica did, their new website launched today and is atrocious. Ars Technica is now a horrible doom scroll experience on mobile with giant blocks to show just one article (before I could see all articles with half a scroll down), desktop Ars Technica is just as bad now too. It was perfect before in smaller block, everything has been giant inflated... lots of wasted space. Before I could glance at 9 different articles quickly to see what interested me, now its down to 5 or 6 max, and even those 5 or 6 take more to figure out what's going on with them cause of the formatting being so strange.

Polygon gaming website did something similar too, Polygon was perfect grid no wasted space, and they changed it a few weeks ago and its a mess to look at now.

Lesson of the day, don't fix what isn't broken, so many sites need to learn this basic fact.

View attachment 365780

It's because we all access web sites via our tablets these days. You know, just like with Windows 8, which was a huge success ....oh, wait!

 

[Space Lynx]

It's because we all access web sites via our tablets these days. You know, just like with Windows 8, which was a huge success ....oh, wait!

now that you mention it, their new format actually would suit tablets and windows 8 very well.... sigh I love Ars Technica, very good company that has great journalism, but yeah don't fix what isn't broken from a technical aspect

 

[KrazyT]

TPU is great, don't fix what isn't broken, which is exactly what Ars Technica did, their new website launched today and is atrocious. Ars Technica is now a horrible doom scroll experience on mobile with giant blocks to show just one article (before I could see all articles with half a scroll down), desktop Ars Technica is just as bad now too. It was perfect before in smaller block, everything has been giant inflated... lots of wasted space. Before I could glance at 9 different articles quickly to see what interested me, now its down to 5 or 6 max, and even those 5 or 6 take more to figure out what's going on with them cause of the formatting being so strange.

And ... what if other people like the new design ?

 

[Space Lynx]

And ... what if other people like the new design ?

this is completely fine, I am sure people do otherwise they would not have changed it, the desktop new design is not terrible, I will say that - but the mobile one going from 6-8 articles at a time down to 1 in a giant block, that one I struggle to understand how anyone likes being changed.

 

[Vayra86]

And ... what if other people like the new design ?

Screw them, simple.

I'm not even kidding. This ultra low info density bullshit has to stop. Its all part of the Great Plan to get us addicted and stupid.

Keep scrolling!

12 Dark Patterns in UX Design [And How To Avoid Them]

What are dark patterns and how do they work? Here are 12 types of deceptive UX, how they work, and what to do instead!

careerfoundry.com

Deceptive Patterns (aka Dark Patterns) - spreading awareness since 2010

The original website about deceptive patterns (also known as “dark patterns”) - tricks used in websites and apps that make you do things that you didn't mean to, like buying or signing up for something.

www.deceptive.design

Infinite scroll and all those other nice tricks are also dark patterns. They're designed to keep you on the website longer. So now you know why everyone's copying this bullshit. Its not because 'we like it' or because its somehow better. Its a path that leads to misdirection and info overload, so you start doing things you'd not do if you were acting sane.

 

[Wirko]

I came to moan about the Windows 8 virus too, it's very much still alive and spreading, but the new Ars format on the desktop isn't particularly bad. You also get to choose among four different formats, including "classic", which will probably be gone after a beta period.

One of the basic properties of Win 8 "design language" (muh) is gross unbalance between the sizes of large fonts, small fonts, pics/photos/illustrations and empty space. In that regard, the Grid format is quite Win 8-like but the List format is pretty.

down to 1 in a giant block

Time to fire up those monkey add-ons for Firefox again, I mean those that allowed you to manipulate the CSS of a web page.

 

[AusWolf]

When the operator of a tech website decides to focus the design around tech illiterate monkeys browsing on their Windows 8/10 phablets. Tell me about not knowing your audience, lol!

I'm glad TPU has nothing to do with such crap.

Lesson of the day, don't fix what isn't broken, so many sites need to learn this basic fact.

Big truth, but not just for websites. You could say the same about many other fields of life these days.

 

[bonehead123]

Well, I agree with the "if it aint broke, don't fix it" mindset, but if you are someone who objects to ARS's redesign, you could always start an online petition to try to get them to "fix it cause it IS broken" !

Not sure it would work, but you never know

And for the record, I like TPU's setup just like it is, so @W1zzard, just keep on keepin on !

 

[Vincero]

I hate this sort of 'design philosophy'...

Another thing they do is where you have these headlines and headline image encapsulated in this massive block, but within the block you waste that space by using small circular images to highlight something - but due to the size restriction that small circular image is pointless as it's cropping out detail or just super small.
My theory is that it makes people click to be able to see more detail, but as clicks mean ad revenue....

 

[chrcoluk]

Screw them, simple.

I'm not even kidding. This ultra low info density bullshit has to stop. Its all part of the Great Plan to get us addicted and stupid.

Keep scrolling!

12 Dark Patterns in UX Design [And How To Avoid Them]

What are dark patterns and how do they work? Here are 12 types of deceptive UX, how they work, and what to do instead!

careerfoundry.com

Deceptive Patterns (aka Dark Patterns) - spreading awareness since 2010

The original website about deceptive patterns (also known as “dark patterns”) - tricks used in websites and apps that make you do things that you didn't mean to, like buying or signing up for something.

www.deceptive.design

Infinite scroll and all those other nice tricks are also dark patterns. They're designed to keep you on the website longer. So now you know why everyone's copying this bullshit. Its not because 'we like it' or because its somehow better. Its a path that leads to misdirection and info overload, so you start doing things you'd not do if you were acting sane.

Funny enough, infinite scroll tends to make me want to leave sites.

 

[R-T-B]

Screw them, simple.

Uh, no. Preferences are ok.

It's called themes people. This isn't complicated.

 

[Vayra86]

Uh, no. Preferences are ok.

It's called themes people. This isn't complicated.

Preferences yes, falling for misleading UX design is not preference, its being manipulated. More so and especially if you haven't got a choice how to view content.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Uh, no. Preferences are ok.

It's called themes people. This isn't complicated.

Preferences are OK, until those preferences lead to negative behavior and affect other people.

Shoving loot boxes into games was a "preference" too. So was requiring your real name on a Google account.

Sometimes, your "preference" is just wrong and needs to be called out.

 

[R-T-B]

Shoving loot boxes into games was a "preference" too. So was requiring your real name on a Google account.

And when it ceased to be, it was wrong.

This isn't hard people.

Sometimes, your "preference" is just wrong and needs to be called out.

no u.

 

[Space Lynx]

I came to moan about the Windows 8 virus too, it's very much still alive and spreading, but the new Ars format on the desktop isn't particularly bad. You also get to choose among four different formats, including "classic", which will probably be gone after a beta period.

One of the basic properties of Win 8 "design language" (muh) is gross unbalance between the sizes of large fonts, small fonts, pics/photos/illustrations and empty space. In that regard, the Grid format is quite Win 8-like but the List format is pretty.


Time to fire up those monkey add-ons for Firefox again, I mean those that allowed you to manipulate the CSS of a web page.

I did try the classic option you are referring to, and it does NOT mean the way the website looked before the update, it is a permanent option they have always had and in no way represents the way the website was before the update. Strange they do it this way, I did try all four options, and the new desktop, as I already admitted is not horrible, but yeah I am deleting the mobile bookmark I had for it, I will just browse it on desktop.

 

[sethmatrix7]

Ignoring the new consoom oriented tiles, why are all the ads so poorly placed?

This new site flows so poorly I probably would've gotten a C in high school web design if I submitted it.

 

[Vincero]

I like how they term it 'responsive design'....

Oh yeah, it's definitely triggering a response...

 

[unwind-protect]

And ... what if other people like the new design ?

Those can't possibly exist.

 

[R-T-B]

Ignoring the new consoom oriented tiles, why are all the ads so poorly placed?

View attachment 365850
View attachment 365851
View attachment 365852
This new site flows so poorly I probably would've gotten a C in high school web design if I submitted it.

Ok that's just awful.

 

[Space Lynx]

Ok that's just awful.

I'm so thankful W1zz does his ads in a respectable and logical way. I think he might be the last one to do so. I feel like a Braveheart gif with capital letters saying HOLD THE LINE is appropriate here, but ever since I started doing three jobs I am too drained to be entertaining anymore, sorry folks. lol

@sethmatrix7 the letter grade of C comment made me

 

[sethmatrix7]

I'm so thankful W1zz does his ads in a respectable and logical way. I think he might be the last one to do so. I feel like a Braveheart gif with capital letters saying HOLD THE LINE is appropriate here, but ever since I started doing three jobs I am too drained to be entertaining anymore, sorry folks. lol

@sethmatrix7 the letter grade of C comment made me

Agreed on the TPU ads, they are always relevant technology and fit well with the site. I don't use adblock on TPU.

 

[R-T-B]

Agreed on the TPU ads, they are always relevant technology and fit well with the site. I don't use adblock on TPU.

Yeah the only ones that ever irked me at all were the greymarket key resellers but even they were unobtrusive and easy to ignore.

Beats the alternatives by 10 fold.